MURRAY, Ky. — Murray State baseball received not just one ring but two, commemorating the 2025 Racers’ run to the Missouri Valley Conference Championship and the College World Series.

Over 200 people associated with Racer baseball attended the ceremony at the CFSB Center on Wednesday night, including the 2026 Racer team. Head Coach Dan Skirka said it was important to have the newcomers in attendance.

“That’s what’s special about this family, is that once you’re part of it, you’re forever part of it,” Skirka said. “And it doesn’t matter what year, or just graduated, or graduated 20 years ago, you’re all part of this baseball family.”

Having the current Racers in attendance meant the 20-plus newcomers on the 2026 roster would have a chance to hear from the guys on the 2025 squad, and what led to the team making their run to Omaha.

“There’s definitely going to be bumps in the road, and that’s life in general,” Isaac Silva, a pitcher from last year’s squad and currently in the Baltimore Orioles organization, said. “Being able to stick with your guys, because they’re going through the good times and the bad times with you. If you can lean on your brother to the right and left, you should be fine.” 

 

“I just hope that they love each other like we did last year,” 3rd baseman from last year’s squad Carson Garner added. “It was a special group that we had last year, and I hope that the returners are able to convey that message to the new guys and that culture we built last year, I hope it stands because I hope every baseball player gets to experience it, because it was the greatest team in my life, and so much fun every day. I just hope that, you know, they get to experience that, and if they do, then they’ll have success just like we did.”

 

Part of that culture-building came with the adversity the group faced last year, including bad weather and field conditions, which led to the team having to practice and play in different locations.

 

Fast forward to this year, the Racers are already having to deal with the same struggles. Renovations to Johnny Reagan Field mean the Racers will play the first three home series of the season at neutral sites. And leading up to the season, the team has had to move some practices to other sites, like McCracken County High School. Not to mention the snow that came over the weekend.

 

“I was talking to my wife the other night, I said, ‘it just can’t be easy, can it,'” Skirka said. “So obviously, already thrown some adversity with some snow and some field renovation delays, and it’s all part of it. We’ll make the most of it. These guys have been preparing like crazy. They’re hyper-focused and excited and wherever and whenever we play, they’ll be ready to go.”

“There’s going to be ups and downs, we’re going to have hard patches in the season, but just continue to put your head down and continue to grind it,” senior pitcher Nic Schutte added. “Everything’s going to work out. And we’re having to go practice elsewhere. Do this, do that, shovel snow. But I mean, doing it with the guys that you love, you’re going to look back on those moments and they’re going to be funny moments later.”

 

Murray State will open the season with a three-game set against Ohio, a home series which will be played on the campus of Southern Illinois University, starting February 13.